2017 Tour de France

[The Bull Shark]

Meintjes lost time against Yates again. He just do not have the same amount of Watts that Yates has on the flat or low inclines.

[T-Bob]

Shame EBH was super strong but killed his chances by being out of position when it kicked off. He made up a huge amount of road but it was a bit too much.

 

Clever riding from Froome, Uran and Bardet, shocking from Aru. Uran breathing down the neck of the top 3.

 

For some reason I just can't like 'Bling'. just reminds me of too many of the Canberra sport institute guys I've known. I should back him but I'd have preferred EBH today or GVA.

[Jakkals.]

Shame EBH was super strong but killed his chances by being out of position when it kicked off. He made up a huge amount of road but it was a bit too much.

 

Clever riding from Froome, Uran and Bardet, shocking from Aru. Uran breathing down the neck of the top 3.

 

For some reason I just can't like 'Bling'. just reminds me of too many of the Canberra sport institute guys I've known. I should back him but I'd have preferred EBH today or GVA.

EBH couldn't go with Gilbert's attack. He was well positioned.

 

Aru losing yellow favors him tactically. Team Sky will have to saddle all their horses and hopefully they'll tire.

[scotty]

Froome back in yellow. 

 

Go Sky 

[Bonus]

Just goes to show - every second between groups counts.

[Shebeen]

I hear you man. I had the same issue when they commented about Hesjedal. It was always rider Hesjedal this and rider Hesjedal that, but never rider Froome or rider Contador.  FFS, they all on bikes, they all in the TdF, that makes them ALL riders!

what grinds me is they refer to Dimension Data Qhubekha manager doug rider. I see him behind the scenes, never on a frikken bike!

[T-Bob]

EBH couldn't go with Gilbert's attack. He was well positioned..

 

When Nassen attacked and PhilGil chased that down EBH was already 8th wheel when he needed to be on Matthews or 2 places higher up that he was. As a result he was pushed right and boxed in against the barriers briefly by the rider in front and another slowing rider, lost momentum and then then was forced to go across to the other side of the road to get around. By then the MM, GVA and PG had open a sizable gap that EBH surged across at pace but was burning up his reserves and just as he caught PG at the back Matthews launched. Unfortunately for today I think positioning was a factor in how it played out for him today. He pulled 3rd from a less than ideal run compared the the guys in the front spit which goes to show his legs were strong. 

['Kaze Pete]

Hubbers are ryding name jokes tonight! yellow jerseys lyfting their moods?

[Pah Bear]

Impressed with Robbie McEwen. He called it perfectly when they approached the run in to the finish. He said Aru was going to get dropped in that lead up to the last inclne due to the route being so technical, with plenty twists and turns.

 

He foretold that Aru would have poor positioning and that Froome would probably duke it out with the sprinters for the finish. CF did not quite manage that but he was close behind them. In the end Aru was so poorly placed he came in ... 40th and lost 26 seconds. Yellow change hands.

 

Crystal ball McEwen.

[Stretch]

Impressed with Robbie McEwen. He called it perfectly when they approached the run in to the finish. He said Aru was going to get dropped in that lead up to the last inclne due to the route being so technical, with plenty twists and turns.

 

He foretold that Aru would have poor positioning and that Froome would probably duke it out with the sprinters for the finish. CF did not quite manage that but he was close behind them. In the end Aru was so poorly placed he came in ... 40th and lost 26 seconds. Yellow change hands.

 

Crystal ball McEwen.

I have been super impressed with the itv commentary.They identifed that aru was boxed out in the back with about 7kms to go and that it was going to be near impossible for him to get though to the front

[T-Bob]

https://thecyclingpodcast.com/podcast/stage-14-blagnac-rodez-tour-de-france-2017

 

Interesting interviews with Dave B and with Aru's team mates. 

[Jewbacca]

It's stages like today that makes me angry that Valverde took such unnecessary risks on day 1...

 

This tour would have been far richer with him in the mix

[coppi]

It's stages like today that makes me angry that Valverde took such unnecessary risks on day 1...

 

This tour would have been far richer with him in the mix

and don't forget about Porte too......

 

 

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[Jewbacca]

and don't forget about Porte too......

 

 

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Yeah.. But Porte has a couple of years left in his career... I think with NQ being so pap and the nature of the route, this was the last realistic chance Alejandro had of bringing it home to Paris. 

 

Oh well. To finish first one has to finish!

[Bub Marley]

Valverde would not have challenged Froome at all. I feel like everyone places far too much emphasis on races happening before the tour. It means nothing. Porte was probably the major threat this year not Valverde.

 

 

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[The Bull Shark]

Today we are going to see whose legs are starting to feel the tour. I expect NQ to lose more time today again. The GC contenders are not going to allow him to go up on the road again like last time.